Recycling items ....

Imaginative ways of reusing all those fabulous coloured buttons you have

All your plastic bottles, look at these great ideas

Enjoy recycling today

Forsythia ....

Perhaps the best known symbol of early spring, these cheerful tiny flowers bloom on naked winter stems

White spring flowers ....

The charm of these white narcissus rests in the purity and the briefness of their appearance

Colours

Purple, violet, eggplant ..... accented with the vibrance of yellow, sunshine, lemon with a hint of magenta~ positively refreshing on a winter day

What a wonderful way of entering a home of happiness, turn this door knob, come in and visit.

Just had to share my new favourite colourway!

"Poppies"

Another wonderful wool image ....

Visit Jill's site: www.jill-harrison.webs.com to see more of her great pieces

Today's goal is to ....

Go on, strive for this today ....

Hummus

Addictive ......

Wonderful served with pita, crackers, bread and vegetables 

1 cup of chickpeas (keep the broth)
Juice of 2-3 lemons

3 garlic cloves

1 tsp salt

2-3 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)

1 cup oil (olive)

Blend drained chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, salt and tahini, slowly adding half a cup of the chickpea broth and half the oil.

Keep blending slowly adding the remaining oil

Serve piled in a dish decorated with chopped parsley, toasted sesame seeds or a few chickpeas. Pour alittle extra oil over the surface, so it shines

NOTE: Often I add basil for additional flavour

Enjoy

MOMIX

MOMIX never ceases to amaze! 

A company of dancer-illusionists known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty. 

For 30 years, MOMIX has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealistic images using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body. Under the direction of founder Moses Pendleton.

Little Princes

Another favourite book ...

An astonishing testament to true courage, the transformative power of love, and the ability of one man to make a real difference.
In search of adventure, twenty-nine-year-old Conor Grennan embarked on a yearlong journey around the globe, beginning with a three-month stint volunteering at an orphanage in civil war–torn Nepal. But a shocking truth would forever change his life: these rambunctious, resilient children were not orphans at all but had been taken from their families by child traffickers who falsely promised to keep them safe from war before abandoning them in the teeming chaos of Kathmandu. For Conor, what started as a footloose ramble became a dangerous, dedicated mission to unite youngsters he had grown to love with the parents they had been stolen from—a breathtaking adventure, as Conor risked everything in the treacherous Nepalese mountains to bring the children home.

Enjoy

Hearts

"love" the simplicity of these "hearts"

a gentle natural flow of "love" on this Valentine's Day!

Mini calla lilies

Pink is the new "red" ....

the stems are symbolic of the love when giving flowers!

Wool flowers

Ballerina's, open anemones and scabiosa ....

is what this portrays to me..... thanks www.jill-harrison.webs.com for sharing

Chocolate

Lindt with a touch of ......

Fleur de Sel added to this dark chocolate, my new favourite! 

Paired with a cup of coffee, a great evening treat. 

Time........

is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.' 
 ~ Lao-Tzu

Eternal on the Water

This is my favourite book, just had to share ....

Cobb, a devoted teacher and nature-lover, takes a sabbatical from his New England boys prep school seeking to experience what Henry David Thoreau and the transcendentalists did in the early nineteenth century. Kayaking to the last known spot where the American writer and philosopher camped four years before he died, he encounters the beautiful free-spirited Mary. Also a teacher, avid bird-watcher, and deft adventurist, Mary is flirtatious and beguiling, and the two soon become inseparable. Mary is like no one Cobb has ever met before, but he gets the feeling that she is harboring a secret. Eventually she shares her fears with Cobb--that she may be carrying the gene for a devastating, incurable illness that runs in her family. Finding strength in their commitment to one another, the two embark on a journey that is filled with joy, anguish, hope, and most importantly, unending love.Set against the sweeping natural backdrops of Maine's rugged backcountry, the exotic islands of Indonesia, scenic Yellowstone National Park, and rural New England, Tender River is a timeless and poignant love story that will captivate readers everywhere

Enjoy

Gloriosa lilies

Gloriosa superba...

is the national flower of Zimbabwe (where it is a protected plant). A diamond brooch in the shape of the flame lily was a gift from Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) to Queen Elizabeth II  on a visit in 1947 while she was still the crown princess.

It is also the state flower of  Tamil Nadu a state in India, and is the national flower of Tamil Eelam

Herbs

The stairs leading to my apt are .....

the perfect location for growing herbs (basil, oregano, corriander and thyme), plenty of sunshine and rain yet protected from the winter winds

Phalaenopsis orchids

Magenta, cerise, hot pink, fuchsia.......

playing around with my camera this morning and caught this, love the shape of the throat, colours and the textures of this bloom

Earrings

So personal in every way .....

recreating new earrings~teal paint and clear nail vanish 




















a longtime favourite pair~ French wired yellow 
chalcedony stones.

Both are perfect for Spring 2013. 

Great Window display

Thanks "Retail Details Blog" ....

had a chuckle over this, great to see a fun engaging window display

Malbec 2008

While having a lovely meal at Barracuda Grill, the menu was part of the Restaurant Week promotion~ baked oysters, duo of local fish, then peach and berry strudel with salted vanilla ice cream for dessert

Lori and I enjoyed this..... ( I know red wine with fish!)

Red color with shiny violet tones. Very complex and elegant bouquet.  Plenty of wild red fruits like blackberries and cherries, liquorish and delicate hints of flowers.  On the palate, the wine shows a remarkable balance with very elegant, delicate and silky  tannins. We enjoyed our evening!

Hydrangea

Wow......

personally, I love this colourway, accented with ruby red or hot pink roses and soft blue hyacinth along with the subtle gray of eucalyptus~ stunning!

Spring colours 2013

Well, it's not feeling like spring yet..........

 just had to share these spring colour- I adore poppy red

Fried Halloumi

1 of my New Year's resolutions for 2013 was a minimum of 1 new recipe a week! 
So the aspiring chef that I am, tried this from Todd English's book, a beautiful gift given to me Christmas 2012 by my dear friend Mimi.
My personal note says it all.....

Buried Memories: Katie Beers

Oh my my my........

Just finished reading this story, it's a never-before-told true story of survival, memory and recovery. Katie Beers was a profoundly neglected and abused child even before she was kidnapped on Long Island in 1992. Abducted by a family friend, she was held captive in an underground cell for 17 days and sexually abused. With smarts and strength, she slipped the bonds of captivity and began a new life. Katie, now a married working mother, has revealed her inspiring story of torment and recovery to the TV reporter who, as part of the original media frenzy covering the case, sought the ending to one of the most compelling sagas in New York criminal history. Katie, at the center of a national media storm, dropped out of sight 20 years ago and - until now - has never spoken publicly. 

The telling of her story, upon the 20th anniversary of her rescue (January 13th) offers enlightening hindsight into what enabled Katie to overcome a lost childhood. 

The book includes never-before told details of her ordeal and the shocking discovery of audio tapes recorded by her kidnapper during the captivity.

Enjoy

Curried cashew and carrot soup

Fabulously delicious for a wintery Monday....

This recipe is filling and substantial. It's flavor and texture varies with the toasting and grinding of the cashew nuts.
The finer the nuts are ground the smoother and thicker the soup will be

3 large carrots (500 grams)
2 small onions
1 tablespoon butter
1-2 tablespoon curry powder
3 cups water
3 teaspoon vegetable bouillon powder
1 cup toasted cashew nuts

Slice the carrots and chop the onions finely
Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan, add the curry powder and chopped onions and sauté until the onions are soft but not brown
Add the carrots, water and stock simmer until the carrots are tender

In a blender process the cashew nuts until finely ground

Drain the cooked carrots and onions and put into the food processor with the ground nuts. Process adding the stock, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary

Reheat to serve. Top each serving with a spoonful of yoghurt sauce made with cup unsweetened plain yoghurt mixed with 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint and 1 clove of finely crushed garlic


Enjoy